August 2021 - A preliminary plan is underway for a new dog park in Warsaw.

The process is in the early stages, but funds are being raised through Rotary Club events such as the Parrot Head Cruise on Lake Wawasee which took place in June.

The location being considered for the park is a parcel of land at 216 S. Hand Ave. The size of the parcel is just under 4 acres, with the dog park expected to take up 1-2 acres. 

“The hope is that there will be a walking path around the park and a place to launch kayaks, “ City Planner Justin Taylor told InkFreeNews. “These features would be open to the public even if you do not have a pet.”

As far as when work on the park is expected to begin or when it may be completed, Taylor noted that timelines are difficult to predict this early on in a project. 

“Once we start fundraising, we’ll have a better idea of when each phase of the project will be completed,” Taylor said.

The Warsaw Rotary Club is proceeding with the project and are in the process of acquiring the ground, which is currently owned by Indiana American Water Company.

Taylor has put together a preliminary plan; however, a number of technical details and approvals remain to be dealt with since a good part of the land parcel is in designated wetlands.

Although no decision has been made yet, Taylor said there will likely be a small fee to use the dog park because visitors would need to register their pet with the Warsaw Parks Department.